New faces and well-known champions named on World Class Programme for 2023

Published:

British Triathlon has announced the athletes and guides who have been named on the National Lottery Funded UK Sport World Class Programme for the year ahead.

Off the back of the World Triathlon Para Championships in Abu Dhabi, PTVI World Champion Dave Ellis (PTVI) and his guide Luke Pollard are once again named on the Paralympic Programme, alongside world silver medallist Claire Cashmore (PTS5) and world bronze medallist Alison Peasgood (PTVI).

On the Olympic Programme, 2022 world silver medallists Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee are named alongside U23 World Champions Kate Waugh and Connor Bentley as part of the programme for 2023.

There are also a number of athletes who have been announced for the first time as part of the programme, including Commonwealth Games athlete Oscar Kelly (PTVI) and his guide Charlie Harding, as well as silver medallist from 2022 World Triathlon Para Series Montreal, Finley Jakes (PTS4), who have all been named on the Paralympic programme.

Speaking about being named on the programme for the first time, Jakes said: “I’ve been able to have my most consistent year with training and balancing my studies which I’ve now been able to show when racing. It’s been my most competitive year internationally and I’m grateful to see my hard work paying off by being able to compete for medals.

“Being on programme seems very surreal to me as I feel it’s been something I’ve aimed for most of life from competing in athletics to now triathlon. I feel very proud to be able be a part of this team and train alongside the best in the world

“Funding will enable me to have more of my time focused on training and provide me access to elite support staff to help me on my journey. I’m looking forward to being pushed beyond my limits and learn what I will be capable of achieving.”

New for the 2023 Olympic programme are Jack Willis, Barclay Izzard and Dan Dixon, who will all join the programme following recent performances and results. Like Kelly, Dixon represented Team England this summer in Birmingham, whilst Willis competed at the European Championships in Munich.

Reflecting on his selection, Willis said: “Being part of the programme is an exciting step for me. Following the same pathway as some of the very best in the sport is something I feel privileged to be able to do. 

“The programme and funding will allow me to continue my career in a more professional manner, with the funding ensuring I can live as a full time athlete, optimising training and recovery as much as possible.

“2022 was a rewarding year for me. I was pleased to step up a level to get some competitive results at World Cups and getting my World Triathlon Championship debut at the Finals in Abu Dhabi was a special end to the year.”

Tokyo 2020 gold medallist, Lauren Steadman (PTS5), retains her place as part of the programme as she gets back to training and racing following a break in 2022, with fellow Tokyo Paralympian, Michael Taylor (PTS4), also named.

Also announced on the Olympic Programme are Sophie Coldwell and Beth Potter, who finished sixth and seventh respectively in the final 2022 Maurice Lacroix World Triathlon Championship rankings, as well as three-time Olympic medallist Jonathan Brownlee.

Mike Cavendish, British Triathlon Performance Director, said: “For athletes being named on the programme, it means that they have met certain standards to receive support through British Triathlon for their training and racing.

“A number of the athletes are well-known to the programme and it’s great to be able to retain them, whilst for the new faces this year, it’s a really exciting step for their development and a sign of where they’re at and the potential we see in them.

“The programme showcases the top level of the triathlon and paratriathlon pathways, with athletes not selected this year also receiving high quality support to aide in their further development. A number of these athletes may be disappointed to have not been selected, however we look forward to continuing their journey within the British Triathlon pathway.

“The support the pathway receives from the National Lottery has been central to the sustained growth and success of our Olympic and Paralympic programmes and will be as we continue the journey of this Paris Games cycle.”

You can find out more about National Lottery Funded UK Sport World Class Programme athletes by viewing their profiles on the British Triathlon website here.

Programmes in full:

Paralympic Programme

Lauren Steadman – from Peterborough, trains London

Dave Ellis - from Derby, trains Loughborough

Luke Pollard (Guide) – from Telford, trains Loughborough

George Peasgood – from Safron Walden, trains Loughborough

Claire Cashmore – from Kidderminster, trains Loughborough

Alison Peasgood – from Dunfermline, trains Loughborough

Michael Taylor – from Barnstaple, trains Bristol/Bath

Oscar Kelly – from Redbridge, trains Loughborough

Charlie Harding (Guide) – from Penrith, trains Nottingham

Finley Jakes – from Eastbourne, trains Loughborough

Melissa Nicholls – from Tewkesbury, trains various

Colin Wallace – from Aberdeen, trains Aberdeen

Michael Salisbury – from Newcastle, trains Newcastle

Megan Richter – from Birmingham, trains Birmingham

*female guides will be selected and confirmed at a later date

Olympic Programme

Jonathan Brownlee – from Leeds, trains Leeds

Sophie Coldwell – from Nottingham, trains Loughborough

Vicky Holland – from Gloucester, trains Leeds

Jess Learmonth – from Leeds, trains Leeds

Georgia Taylor-Brown – from Manchester, trains Leeds

Alex Yee – from London, trains Loughborough

Sam Dickinson – from Leeds, trains Leeds

Ben Dijkstra – from Loughborough, trains Loughborough

Olivia Mathias – from Newark, trains Loughborough

Beth Potter – from Glasgow, trains Leeds

Sian Rainsley – from Coventry, trains Leeds

Kate Waugh – from Gateshead, trains Leeds

Connor Bentley – from Crewe, trains Loughborough

Sophie Alden – from Norwich, trains Loughborough

Dan Dixon – from Morpeth, Leeds/USA

Jack Willis – from Middlesbrough, trains Leeds

Barclay Izzard – from Derby, trains Nottingham

Thanks to our Partners

Join Us

And enjoy insurance benefits, race licensing and more...